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The Gambler: How Penniless Dropout Kirk Kerkorian Became the Greatest Deal Maker in Capitalist History
The rags-to-riches story of one of America’s wealthiest and least-known financial giants, self-made billionaire Kirk Kerkorian—the daring aviator, movie mogul, risk-taker, and business tycoon who transformed Las Vegas and Hollywood to become one of the leading financiers in American business.
Kerkorian combined the courage of a World War II pilot, the fortitude of a scrappy boxer, the cunning of an inscrutable poker player and an unmatched genius for making deals. He never put his name on a building, but when he died he owned almost every major hotel and casino in Las Vegas. He envisioned and fostered a new industry —the leisure business. Three times he built the biggest resort hotel in the world. Three times he bought and sold the fabled MGM Studios, forever changing the way Hollywood does business.
His early life began as far as possible from a place on the Forbes List of Billionaires when he and his Armenian immigrant family lost their farm to foreclosure. He was four. They arrived in Los Angeles penniless and moved often, staying one step ahead of more evictions. Young Kirk learned English on the streets of L.A., made pennies hawking newspapers and dropped out after eighth grade. How he went on to become one of the richest and most generous men in America—his net worth as much as $20 billion—is a story largely unknown to the world. That’s because what Kerkorian valued most was his privacy. His very private life turned to tabloid fodder late in life when a former professional tennis player falsely claimed that the eighty-five-year-old billionaire fathered her child.
In this engrossing biography, investigative reporter William C. Rempel digs deep into Kerkorian’s long-guarded history to introduce a man of contradictions—a poorly educated genius for deal-making, an extraordinarily shy man who made the boldest of business ventures, a careful and calculating investor who was willing to bet everything on a single roll of the dice.
Unlike others of his status and importance, Kerkorian made few public appearances and strenuously avoided personal publicity. His friends and associates, however, were some of the biggest names in business, entertainment, and sports—among them Howard Hughes, Ted Turner, Steve Wynn, Michael Milken, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Mike Tyson, and Andre Agassi.
When he died in 2015 two years shy of the century mark, Kerkorian had outlived many of his closest friends and associates. Now, Rempel meticulously pieces together revealing fragments of Kerkorian’s life, collected from diverse sources—war records, business archives, court documents, news clippings and the recollections and recorded memories of longtime pals and relatives. In The Gambler, Rempel illuminates this unknown, self-made man and his inspiring legacy as never before.
Kerkorian combined the courage of a World War II pilot, the fortitude of a scrappy boxer, the cunning of an inscrutable poker player and an unmatched genius for making deals. He never put his name on a building, but when he died he owned almost every major hotel and casino in Las Vegas. He envisioned and fostered a new industry —the leisure business. Three times he built the biggest resort hotel in the world. Three times he bought and sold the fabled MGM Studios, forever changing the way Hollywood does business.
His early life began as far as possible from a place on the Forbes List of Billionaires when he and his Armenian immigrant family lost their farm to foreclosure. He was four. They arrived in Los Angeles penniless and moved often, staying one step ahead of more evictions. Young Kirk learned English on the streets of L.A., made pennies hawking newspapers and dropped out after eighth grade. How he went on to become one of the richest and most generous men in America—his net worth as much as $20 billion—is a story largely unknown to the world. That’s because what Kerkorian valued most was his privacy. His very private life turned to tabloid fodder late in life when a former professional tennis player falsely claimed that the eighty-five-year-old billionaire fathered her child.
In this engrossing biography, investigative reporter William C. Rempel digs deep into Kerkorian’s long-guarded history to introduce a man of contradictions—a poorly educated genius for deal-making, an extraordinarily shy man who made the boldest of business ventures, a careful and calculating investor who was willing to bet everything on a single roll of the dice.
Unlike others of his status and importance, Kerkorian made few public appearances and strenuously avoided personal publicity. His friends and associates, however, were some of the biggest names in business, entertainment, and sports—among them Howard Hughes, Ted Turner, Steve Wynn, Michael Milken, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Mike Tyson, and Andre Agassi.
When he died in 2015 two years shy of the century mark, Kerkorian had outlived many of his closest friends and associates. Now, Rempel meticulously pieces together revealing fragments of Kerkorian’s life, collected from diverse sources—war records, business archives, court documents, news clippings and the recollections and recorded memories of longtime pals and relatives. In The Gambler, Rempel illuminates this unknown, self-made man and his inspiring legacy as never before.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
About the author
William C. Rempel
7 books27 followersBill Rempel’s long and eventful career at the Los Angeles Times, both as a writer and an editor, produced an impressive collection of high-profile projects and change-makers. His reporting triggered government investigations, exposed White House and Pentagon scandals, and prompted reforms of state courts and consumer protection laws.
Groundbreaking reports on Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda were published before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and his extensive coverage of supertanker safety flaws began years before the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster.
The datelines on his overseas investigative reports range from Kiev to the Turks and Caicos Islands. He has co-authored exclusive reports detailing secret U.S. arms deals with Iran, tracking tons of explosives smuggled to terrorist camps in Libya, tracing embargoed nuclear technology out of South Africa and documenting sales and leases of Ukrainian cargo planes to Colombian drug lords.
In the 1990s, he broke a number of major political stories in the U.S. about Bill Clinton in Arkansas and subsequent financial controversies surrounding the 1996 Clinton-Gore presidential campaign. In 2000, his reporting in Texas documented how criminals and other unqualified applicants obtained permits to carry concealed handguns under a controversial weapons law signed by then-Gov. George W. Bush.
Rempel’s work has been recognized with numerous journalistic honors, including an Overseas Press Club award and the Gerald Loeb Award. He was also a finalist for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting.
His examination of the corrupt regime of Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos led to disclosure of the Marcos diaries and his first book, DELUSIONS OF A DICTATOR (Little, Brown and Company, 1993). It was updated and re-released in 2013 as the e-Book, DIARY OF A DICTATOR — Ferdinand & Imelda: The Last Days of Camelot.
He spent nearly a decade in secret contacts with a former high ranking Colombian drug figure under federal protection somewhere in the United States, patiently amassing material until he could write AT THE DEVIL'S TABLE: The Untold Story of the Insider Who Brought Down the Cali Cartel (Random House, 2011). The book has since been issued in Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and Polish.
An 80-episode Spanish language television series based on his book was released in 2014 by Sony-Teleset under the title: En la Boca del Lobo (In the Jaws of the Wolf). It is available in much of the world on Netflix. Also in 2014, Warner Brothers studios bought feature film rights for At the Devil’s Table.
Rempel has appeared on numerous radio and television current affairs programs, including The Today Show, Nightline, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Reliable Sources and This American Life.
He was born in Palmer — in the Territory of Alaska — the grandson of Matanuska Valley homesteaders from Michigan and Russia. As a boy, he moved with his family to California where he later attended Pepperdine College on a journalism scholarship. His first newsroom after graduation was at the Copley chain’s South Bay Daily Breeze where he became assistant city editor.
Rempel joined the Los Angeles Times in 1973, covering suburban Los Angeles before taking over a metro beat covering the waterfront. He was later a roving state feature writer, business writer and a national correspondent based in Chicago for five winters. For the next 20-plus years Rempel led teams of investigative reporters both as a writer and editor. He left the Times in 2009 to complete work on his book, At the Devil’s Table.
His newest title THE GAMBLER, publishing with Harper Collins in November 2017 is a biography of self-made billionaire Kirk Kerkorian — daring aviator, gambler, and business tycoon — who bet billions based on gut instincts in a career spanning eight decades.
Groundbreaking reports on Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda were published before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and his extensive coverage of supertanker safety flaws began years before the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster.
The datelines on his overseas investigative reports range from Kiev to the Turks and Caicos Islands. He has co-authored exclusive reports detailing secret U.S. arms deals with Iran, tracking tons of explosives smuggled to terrorist camps in Libya, tracing embargoed nuclear technology out of South Africa and documenting sales and leases of Ukrainian cargo planes to Colombian drug lords.
In the 1990s, he broke a number of major political stories in the U.S. about Bill Clinton in Arkansas and subsequent financial controversies surrounding the 1996 Clinton-Gore presidential campaign. In 2000, his reporting in Texas documented how criminals and other unqualified applicants obtained permits to carry concealed handguns under a controversial weapons law signed by then-Gov. George W. Bush.
Rempel’s work has been recognized with numerous journalistic honors, including an Overseas Press Club award and the Gerald Loeb Award. He was also a finalist for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting.
His examination of the corrupt regime of Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos led to disclosure of the Marcos diaries and his first book, DELUSIONS OF A DICTATOR (Little, Brown and Company, 1993). It was updated and re-released in 2013 as the e-Book, DIARY OF A DICTATOR — Ferdinand & Imelda: The Last Days of Camelot.
He spent nearly a decade in secret contacts with a former high ranking Colombian drug figure under federal protection somewhere in the United States, patiently amassing material until he could write AT THE DEVIL'S TABLE: The Untold Story of the Insider Who Brought Down the Cali Cartel (Random House, 2011). The book has since been issued in Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and Polish.
An 80-episode Spanish language television series based on his book was released in 2014 by Sony-Teleset under the title: En la Boca del Lobo (In the Jaws of the Wolf). It is available in much of the world on Netflix. Also in 2014, Warner Brothers studios bought feature film rights for At the Devil’s Table.
Rempel has appeared on numerous radio and television current affairs programs, including The Today Show, Nightline, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Reliable Sources and This American Life.
He was born in Palmer — in the Territory of Alaska — the grandson of Matanuska Valley homesteaders from Michigan and Russia. As a boy, he moved with his family to California where he later attended Pepperdine College on a journalism scholarship. His first newsroom after graduation was at the Copley chain’s South Bay Daily Breeze where he became assistant city editor.
Rempel joined the Los Angeles Times in 1973, covering suburban Los Angeles before taking over a metro beat covering the waterfront. He was later a roving state feature writer, business writer and a national correspondent based in Chicago for five winters. For the next 20-plus years Rempel led teams of investigative reporters both as a writer and editor. He left the Times in 2009 to complete work on his book, At the Devil’s Table.
His newest title THE GAMBLER, publishing with Harper Collins in November 2017 is a biography of self-made billionaire Kirk Kerkorian — daring aviator, gambler, and business tycoon — who bet billions based on gut instincts in a career spanning eight decades.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
February 4, 2018
William C. Rempel was an investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times. He has written the biography of Kirk Kerkorian (1917-2015). The author covers Kerkorian’s life from boyhood to death. The book is full of all types of celebrities from business to sports. Rempel states that Kerkorian was a big-time gambler in casinos, business and life.
The book is well written and researched. The writing is in the style of a journalist. While researching this book, Rempel interviewed many people and worked these interviews into the book. I enjoyed reading this book. The style of writing and the narration made it an easy listen.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is thirteen hours. Fred Sanders does a good job narrating the book. Sanders is an actor and audiobook narrator. This is the first time I have read a book by Rempel or listened to Sanders.
The book is well written and researched. The writing is in the style of a journalist. While researching this book, Rempel interviewed many people and worked these interviews into the book. I enjoyed reading this book. The style of writing and the narration made it an easy listen.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is thirteen hours. Fred Sanders does a good job narrating the book. Sanders is an actor and audiobook narrator. This is the first time I have read a book by Rempel or listened to Sanders.
February 25, 2018
Հայերեն գրեմ, որ չխայտառակվենք: Ինչպիսի ուժեղ մարդու կենսագրություն, տպավորիչ էր, ակնածանքով ես լցվում, և այս ամենի հակապատկեր, ինչպիսի տականքների "աստղաբույլ" Հայքում ովքեր համարձակվեցին գարշամսխել Քըրք Քըրքորյանի նման մարդու միջոցները, որոնք ուղղված էին Հայքում բարեգործական ծրագրերի իրականացմանը:
QUOTE
In Las Vegas he built the world’s biggest hotel—despite a secret campaign to stop him by rival Howard Hughes, the country’s richest man.
Fellow casino owner Donald Trump called Kirk “the king” and told friends: “I love that guy.” Kirk was, however, Trump’s polar opposite in style and temperament. Kirk was soft-spoken and understated with a paralyzing fear of public speaking. He wished, he said, that he “could talk like Trump.”7 Kirk also wanted his name on nothing—not on buildings, not on street signs, not even on his personal parking spot at MGM Studios. And Kirk never defaulted on a loan and always regarded his handshake as a binding contract.
Kirk traveled without an entourage. He carried his own bags and drove his own car, typically a Ford Taurus or Jeep Cherokee.
He refused comps, personally paying for meals and rooms even at his own hotels. Once after a business trip to New York, Kirk was halfway to La Guardia Airport when he ordered his driver back into the city to tip the waitress he forgot to.
He gave away millions to charity and to people in need on the strict condition that his gifts were kept secret. When his donations grew into the tens of millions, he formed a charitable foundation. It gave away more than a billion dollars,...
Under normal circumstances, the Mosquito’s (WWII time airplanes) limited range made such a plan suicidal. A straight line to the coast of Scotland was about twenty-two hundred miles—nearly a thousand miles beyond the plane’s maximum fuel range. Even with a temporarily installed two-hundred-gallon gas tank lashed to the floor of its empty bomb bay, this fighter-bomber would need a hefty tailwind to avoid ditching hundreds of miles short of land. Some veteran Ferry Command pilots turned down or otherwise avoided assignments to fly the Mosquito. Not Kirk.
During one spate of winter months, only one out of four Mosquitos made it. A crew had better odds playing Russian roulette.
For making the drive over the Tehachapi Range that evening and spending a few seconds in the ring, Kirk pocketed $4 in amateur expenses. He also went home with a cherished keepsake, his new fighter’s nickname—“Rifle Right” Kerkorian.
Through the year and into mid-1939, Kirk won thirty-three of thirty-seven fights and was never knocked out. His only losses were decisions. But he was frustrated by Blake’s refusal to let him go pro. In response, Kirk sometimes took on bigger opponents to prove he could stand a pounding.
Kirk’s new love was flying—and she was a demanding mistress. He needed more money to pay for $3-an-hour flight lessons. So he took an extra job at a bowling alley bar as a bouncer. He saved fifty cents a lesson by declining the parachute rental during practice loops and rolls.
“There are old pilots and there are bold pilots—but there are no old, bold pilots.”
The good news for Kirk was that he lost only $50,000. But it was a bitter lesson. “I learned then not to invest in a business that I didn’t run.”
“The smaller your bet, the more you lose when you win.” Besides, what’s the point—where’s the thrill—winning a small wager? Betting the limit became Kirk’s trademark.
Kirk’s theory on walking out of negotiations was adaptable to almost any occasion. “You can always walk back in again,” he used to say.
“Can an honest and ambitious Armenian boy start out in the Civilian Conservation Camps and wind up with nearly $200 million and everybody still his friend?” asked the New York Times.
The SEC was skeptical that Kirk had accepted such limited information. What kind of due diligence was gut instinct? How could Kirk agree to spend $12.5 million without more detailed financials?
One outgrowth of Kirk’s unpredictable childhood—of constantly being on the move, dodging landlords and creditors, in and out of money—was his personal detachment from material things. “Things” didn’t matter in the Kerkorian home—loyalty and family were the only “possessions” that came along on every move.
Like any sane gambler, Kirk never looked back. He wanted no part of what-if speculations, no second-guessing about past decisions. Learn a lesson from mistakes and move on, that was Kirk’s way. But Kirk’s legal and financial advisers wanted to blame the SEC. They estimated that Kirk lost $100 million as a direct result of the stock offering denial.
Kirk blamed Kirk. He had let himself become vulnerable. He hated that. He hated feeling helpless and at the mercy of forces beyond his control. It took much of the fun out of his life and out of his business in 1970. He vowed never to let anything like that happen again.
An indecisive Hughes could never really compete with Kirk—and beyond plotting or committing sabotage, Hughes never really engaged head-to-head with Kerkorian. Their rivalry, to the extent there was one, existed mainly in the mind and ego of Howard Hughes.
“That damned Kerkorian,” Hughes once complained to Maheu. “He’s the only guy I can’t buy.”
“If you expect something in return for your charity, it isn’t charity,” he told friends.
Kirk always kept plenty of cash on hand for his own use. He hated credit cards. “They leave paper trails wherever you go,” he complained. But the first time Kirk ever applied for a credit card, he did so along with financial advisers George Mason and Anthony Mandekic. They were approved. Kirk was rejected. His reliance on cash left him without a consumer credit record.
Several months after the fall, Kirk’s impatience flared again. According to Alex Yemenidjian, Kirk felt his generosity was being taken for granted, that the administration of Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan expected more help than it was getting from the Lincy Foundation. Kerkorian-funded projects during Sargsyan’s first three years in office amounted to substantially less (a total of about $14 million) than the $160 million Lincy poured into earthquake relief during the ten-year term of predecessor Robert Kocharyan.
UNQUOTE
QUOTE
In Las Vegas he built the world’s biggest hotel—despite a secret campaign to stop him by rival Howard Hughes, the country’s richest man.
Fellow casino owner Donald Trump called Kirk “the king” and told friends: “I love that guy.” Kirk was, however, Trump’s polar opposite in style and temperament. Kirk was soft-spoken and understated with a paralyzing fear of public speaking. He wished, he said, that he “could talk like Trump.”7 Kirk also wanted his name on nothing—not on buildings, not on street signs, not even on his personal parking spot at MGM Studios. And Kirk never defaulted on a loan and always regarded his handshake as a binding contract.
Kirk traveled without an entourage. He carried his own bags and drove his own car, typically a Ford Taurus or Jeep Cherokee.
He refused comps, personally paying for meals and rooms even at his own hotels. Once after a business trip to New York, Kirk was halfway to La Guardia Airport when he ordered his driver back into the city to tip the waitress he forgot to.
He gave away millions to charity and to people in need on the strict condition that his gifts were kept secret. When his donations grew into the tens of millions, he formed a charitable foundation. It gave away more than a billion dollars,...
Under normal circumstances, the Mosquito’s (WWII time airplanes) limited range made such a plan suicidal. A straight line to the coast of Scotland was about twenty-two hundred miles—nearly a thousand miles beyond the plane’s maximum fuel range. Even with a temporarily installed two-hundred-gallon gas tank lashed to the floor of its empty bomb bay, this fighter-bomber would need a hefty tailwind to avoid ditching hundreds of miles short of land. Some veteran Ferry Command pilots turned down or otherwise avoided assignments to fly the Mosquito. Not Kirk.
During one spate of winter months, only one out of four Mosquitos made it. A crew had better odds playing Russian roulette.
For making the drive over the Tehachapi Range that evening and spending a few seconds in the ring, Kirk pocketed $4 in amateur expenses. He also went home with a cherished keepsake, his new fighter’s nickname—“Rifle Right” Kerkorian.
Through the year and into mid-1939, Kirk won thirty-three of thirty-seven fights and was never knocked out. His only losses were decisions. But he was frustrated by Blake’s refusal to let him go pro. In response, Kirk sometimes took on bigger opponents to prove he could stand a pounding.
Kirk’s new love was flying—and she was a demanding mistress. He needed more money to pay for $3-an-hour flight lessons. So he took an extra job at a bowling alley bar as a bouncer. He saved fifty cents a lesson by declining the parachute rental during practice loops and rolls.
“There are old pilots and there are bold pilots—but there are no old, bold pilots.”
The good news for Kirk was that he lost only $50,000. But it was a bitter lesson. “I learned then not to invest in a business that I didn’t run.”
“The smaller your bet, the more you lose when you win.” Besides, what’s the point—where’s the thrill—winning a small wager? Betting the limit became Kirk’s trademark.
Kirk’s theory on walking out of negotiations was adaptable to almost any occasion. “You can always walk back in again,” he used to say.
“Can an honest and ambitious Armenian boy start out in the Civilian Conservation Camps and wind up with nearly $200 million and everybody still his friend?” asked the New York Times.
The SEC was skeptical that Kirk had accepted such limited information. What kind of due diligence was gut instinct? How could Kirk agree to spend $12.5 million without more detailed financials?
One outgrowth of Kirk’s unpredictable childhood—of constantly being on the move, dodging landlords and creditors, in and out of money—was his personal detachment from material things. “Things” didn’t matter in the Kerkorian home—loyalty and family were the only “possessions” that came along on every move.
Like any sane gambler, Kirk never looked back. He wanted no part of what-if speculations, no second-guessing about past decisions. Learn a lesson from mistakes and move on, that was Kirk’s way. But Kirk’s legal and financial advisers wanted to blame the SEC. They estimated that Kirk lost $100 million as a direct result of the stock offering denial.
Kirk blamed Kirk. He had let himself become vulnerable. He hated that. He hated feeling helpless and at the mercy of forces beyond his control. It took much of the fun out of his life and out of his business in 1970. He vowed never to let anything like that happen again.
An indecisive Hughes could never really compete with Kirk—and beyond plotting or committing sabotage, Hughes never really engaged head-to-head with Kerkorian. Their rivalry, to the extent there was one, existed mainly in the mind and ego of Howard Hughes.
“That damned Kerkorian,” Hughes once complained to Maheu. “He’s the only guy I can’t buy.”
“If you expect something in return for your charity, it isn’t charity,” he told friends.
Kirk always kept plenty of cash on hand for his own use. He hated credit cards. “They leave paper trails wherever you go,” he complained. But the first time Kirk ever applied for a credit card, he did so along with financial advisers George Mason and Anthony Mandekic. They were approved. Kirk was rejected. His reliance on cash left him without a consumer credit record.
Several months after the fall, Kirk’s impatience flared again. According to Alex Yemenidjian, Kirk felt his generosity was being taken for granted, that the administration of Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan expected more help than it was getting from the Lincy Foundation. Kerkorian-funded projects during Sargsyan’s first three years in office amounted to substantially less (a total of about $14 million) than the $160 million Lincy poured into earthquake relief during the ten-year term of predecessor Robert Kocharyan.
UNQUOTE
June 20, 2019
Fascinating true story of Kirk Kerkorian who dropped out of school after the 8th grade and became a billionaire. He enjoyed the game of making deals and was very good at it. His handshake was his word and he believed in treating everyone fairly. His business involvements included airlines, professional boxing, Las Vegas, movie studios. He was intensely private, generous, and loyal to friends. Because he trusted those he was close to, he fell prey to a woman who claimed he was the father of her child in a scheme to marry him and inherit his money. Despite later proof that he wasn’t the father, he continued to support the child. A fire at his MGM casino later led to stronger fire codes in Vegas. But what caused the fire? I had to look it up on Wikipedia. Against the wishes of his insurance company, he never disputed victims’ claims and paid many out of his own pocket. For someone so wealthy, money wasn’t the most important thing to him. He felt he could always make more. The book focuses mainly on business deals and his love life. His two daughters are hardly mentioned and there’s very little mention of his siblings. And there are no photos other than the cover! Otherwise, a very interesting book.
July 9, 2018
The pop-culture historical narrative of Las Vegas includes such figures as Bugsy Siegel, Howard Hughes and to a lesser extent Benny Binion. But none of these figures has had even a fraction of the impact as Kirk Kerkorian, whose reign over the Las Vegas Strip extended from just after WWII until his death in 2015. His absence in the mind of the public was by design. While Kerkorian was a player in the biggest business deals of the 20th century, he valued his privacy and worked to maintain a low profile.
Unlike Vegas' other founding fathers, Kerkorian was humble, measured, disciplined and incredibly honest. This is in stark contrast to colorful, yet loathsome figures like Jay Sarno.
The author tells a compelling story and has researched the topic with diligence. Kerkorian's handling of the 1980 MGM Grand fire is extraordinary.
Anyone who is serious about studying the history of Las Vegas must read this book.
Unlike Vegas' other founding fathers, Kerkorian was humble, measured, disciplined and incredibly honest. This is in stark contrast to colorful, yet loathsome figures like Jay Sarno.
The author tells a compelling story and has researched the topic with diligence. Kerkorian's handling of the 1980 MGM Grand fire is extraordinary.
Anyone who is serious about studying the history of Las Vegas must read this book.
May 30, 2019
I won this book in a giveaway. It was interesting to learn more about someone who I had never heard of, but it did get a bit repetitive at times due to all the similar deals being made. There were certain aspects that I wish had been gone into deeper, or from more points of view, because the author almost always made Kirk seem like a really nice guy and I do think that anyone that cutthroat in business is not always nice. There has to be a ruthless side and that was a bit glossed over. I will say that it was impressive to read about the amount of money he gave to charity.
February 12, 2018
I struggled through this book, skipped over the endlessly boring details about business but ultimately realized that was who Kerkorian was mostly. Personal life (which is what interests me in a biography) was superfluous to him.
March 18, 2020
Great man!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2023
He is quite a character... Risk taker in business, but fair and generous. Some interesting personal stories about someone who did not like the limelight.
January 2, 2021
An absolutely fascinating rags-to-riches story about a relatively unknown person who was instrumental to the rise of Las Vegas.
August 12, 2018
This review is strictly about the quality of writing, and not about Kirk Kerkorian himself. Sometimes biographers fall in love with their subjects. I’ve never seen such a clear example of this as this book. Kirk Kerkorian was presented as a saint/savant without faults or failures. People who were not part of club Kerkorian were treated with undisguised disdain by the author. The result was a portrayal of a man who lacked nuance, and it was utterly dull.
Kerkorian was notoriously private, so there was often not much to tell. This book falls into the fatal flaw of not understanding that just because someone had a life of extraordinary achievements and experiences does not mean that individual is at all interesting outside of what he accomplished. As a result, there was 350+ pages of boring minutiae around financing stock purchases, takeovers that failed, etc. In the hands of a more talented writer, there may have been something here.
Also, the worst part of this book were the gambling metaphors. Kerkorian didn’t merely increase an investment, he “put more chips on the table”. He didn’t consolidate his funds into a single venture, he went “all in”. These metaphors were frequent (nearly every page) and very labored. By page 100, I was getting eye strain from rolling them.
Kerkorian was notoriously private, so there was often not much to tell. This book falls into the fatal flaw of not understanding that just because someone had a life of extraordinary achievements and experiences does not mean that individual is at all interesting outside of what he accomplished. As a result, there was 350+ pages of boring minutiae around financing stock purchases, takeovers that failed, etc. In the hands of a more talented writer, there may have been something here.
Also, the worst part of this book were the gambling metaphors. Kerkorian didn’t merely increase an investment, he “put more chips on the table”. He didn’t consolidate his funds into a single venture, he went “all in”. These metaphors were frequent (nearly every page) and very labored. By page 100, I was getting eye strain from rolling them.
December 16, 2017
Giving this book 5 stars is probably a bit of a reach, but I REALLY enjoyed it. It was a fun ride through Kirk Kerkorian's life, all of his business deals, and insights into his personal life. I was familiar with him by name, but didn't have any deep knowledge of his background going into the book. He had an amazing career, starting with running a smaller charter airline operation (clients included famous icons like Bugsy Siegel), grew into owning his own fleet (Trans Intercontinental Airlines), became a major investor in Vegas (starting with a failed investment in the Dunes, but then the first MGM, later the current MGM, Mirage and its properties, Mandalay, and even the City Center), and also several major media companies (MGM, UA, etc). He never owned an auto company but took several bites at the apple and made significant gains on investments, with one exception of betting on Ford right before the 2008 collapse. His sense for what deals to make, when to make them, and how to behave in the deals were all interesting. He was incredibly fair, extremely generous, and totally loyal to his people. Overall, just a really fun and enjoyable read.
February 12, 2018
This was an interesting biography about someone I knew little about, Kirk Kerkorian. He managed to work his way up from poverty to one of the richest men on earth. This book tells that story, and it's generally well written and engaging. I barely put it down. There are a few sections that are repeated, and the other quibble is that there's something missing. The author clearly likes KK, although he never met him, but there are times where the portrayal of KK and his motivations don't seem to match with his behaviors. I suspect he was a good person with a ruthless side, and that latter doesn't come through all that clearly as the story is told. You need to read between the lines. And the story of his late divorce - my word, what manipulation he had to endure. In any case, this is an entertaining read and I can recommended it for history/biography fans.
May 28, 2019
Այնքան հետաքրքիր է թերթել Քրքորյանի կյանքը։ Հասկանում ես, թե ինչերի միջով է անցել, ինչքան մահեր է ապրել ու դարձել Լաս Վեգասի արքան։ Եվ այդքան հարուստ լինելով մեկտեղ՝ շարունակել է մնալ ամաչկոտ,
հասարակության աչքերից և ուշադրությունը չսիրող, համեստ ու պարզ մարդ։ Կարդում եմ ու էլի համոզվում, որ Պիեռ Կոռնեյլը ճիշտ է ասել․ «Առանց ռիսկի հաղթելը հաղթանակ է առանց փառքի», իսկ Քրքորյանը իր մրցակիցներին փառքով է հաղթել։ Խաղացողի մոլեռանդությամբ՝ ամբողջ ունեցվածքը, գումարները դրել է խաղասեղանին․ կառուցեց ամենամեծ հյուրանոց-զվարճանչի վայրը՝ «Միջազգայինը», հետո MGM Grand-ը և իր բոլոր քայլերը հաշվարկված էին, բայց մեկ է լի ռիսկերով, անկանխատեսելի հանգամանքներով ու նենգ մարդկանցով։
Քրքորյանին ավելի շատ կանայք կործանեցին, և այս գիրքն էլ կարդալով ավելի եմ համոզվում, թե ինքան նողկալի են ու ամեն ստորության ընդունակ են շահամոլ կանայք։
Հայաստանին նվիրված հատվածի մասին մի բան կասեմ․ Քրքորյանի գումարները ոչ ամբողջությամբ իր նպատակին ծառայեցին, շատերը «երակ» մտան ու մակաբույծի նման կերան, տռզեցին։ Բայց, իմ կարծիքով, այստեղ Քրքորյանի սխալն էլ կա, գուցե ինքը այդքան կապված չէր հայերի հետ, այդքան սրտացավ չէր Հայստանին ուղարկած իր փողերի հարցով, և այդ նվիրատվությունները ավելի շատ նման էին «ցանկանում են փող, ես պատրաստ եմ, սիրով կտամ» իսկ երկարաժամկետում սա փոփոխությունների չի բերում ու երբ Քրքորյանը «սպառվեց» մենք նորից կանգնեցինք կոտրած տաշտակի առջև։
Պարոն Քրքորյան, այնքան կուզենայի Ձեզ ասել, որ Ձեր կյանքն ու անցած ճանապարհը հիացնում են ինձ, հիացնում են այն ձեռքբերումները, որ ունեցաք ԱՄՆ-ում, այն կարողության զրոյների թիվը, որ կուտոկեցիք Ձեր բիզնես հաջողությունների շնորհիվ։ Չեք պատկերացնում, թե ես ամերիկացիներին ինչ խանդավառությամբ եմ պատմում Ձեր մասին, հարցնում ճանաչո՞ւմ եք, բայց ցավում եմ, որ անտարբեր ինձ են նայում, ասում Ձեր անունը անգամ չեն լսել, չգիտեն, թե ինչքան եք օգնել ԱՄՆ-ին, չգիտեն Լաս Վեգասի համբավը ներկայիս համբավին հասցնելու գործում ով է կանգնած, ինքան գումարներ եք նվիրաբերել Կարմիր Խաչին, բայց մեկ է դուք իրենց համար օտար եք, անճանաչելի, անհայտ, իսկ հայերի՞ համար։ Ձեզ բոլորը գիտեն, Ձեզնով բոլորն են հպարտանում, գիտեն Ձեր ներդումը աղետի գոտին վերականգնելու գործում, գիտեն «Լինսի» հիմնադրամում ներդրված գումարների մեծության ամսին։ Դուք մեր հերոսն եք, հպարտությունը ու քանի հայերը հիշում են Ձեզ, (իսկ Ձեր պատկերը դպրոցներում ու զորամասերում է), ապա ապրելու եք ու հիշվելու եք սերունդների կողմից։ Եթե այսքանը իմանայիք, տեսնիեք, կարծում եմ՝ երկորդ կյանք ունենալու դեպքում, Ձեր խաղադրույքը Հայաստանի վրա կանեիք և Ձեր կարողությունը արևմտյան քամիները չէին քշի։
հասարակության աչքերից և ուշադրությունը չսիրող, համեստ ու պարզ մարդ։ Կարդում եմ ու էլի համոզվում, որ Պիեռ Կոռնեյլը ճիշտ է ասել․ «Առանց ռիսկի հաղթելը հաղթանակ է առանց փառքի», իսկ Քրքորյանը իր մրցակիցներին փառքով է հաղթել։ Խաղացողի մոլեռանդությամբ՝ ամբողջ ունեցվածքը, գումարները դրել է խաղասեղանին․ կառուցեց ամենամեծ հյուրանոց-զվարճանչի վայրը՝ «Միջազգայինը», հետո MGM Grand-ը և իր բոլոր քայլերը հաշվարկված էին, բայց մեկ է լի ռիսկերով, անկանխատեսելի հանգամանքներով ու նենգ մարդկանցով։
Քրքորյանին ավելի շատ կանայք կործանեցին, և այս գիրքն էլ կարդալով ավելի եմ համոզվում, թե ինքան նողկալի են ու ամեն ստորության ընդունակ են շահամոլ կանայք։
Հայաստանին նվիրված հատվածի մասին մի բան կասեմ․ Քրքորյանի գումարները ոչ ամբողջությամբ իր նպատակին ծառայեցին, շատերը «երակ» մտան ու մակաբույծի նման կերան, տռզեցին։ Բայց, իմ կարծիքով, այստեղ Քրքորյանի սխալն էլ կա, գուցե ինքը այդքան կապված չէր հայերի հետ, այդքան սրտացավ չէր Հայստանին ուղարկած իր փողերի հարցով, և այդ նվիրատվությունները ավելի շատ նման էին «ցանկանում են փող, ես պատրաստ եմ, սիրով կտամ» իսկ երկարաժամկետում սա փոփոխությունների չի բերում ու երբ Քրքորյանը «սպառվեց» մենք նորից կանգնեցինք կոտրած տաշտակի առջև։
Պարոն Քրքորյան, այնքան կուզենայի Ձեզ ասել, որ Ձեր կյանքն ու անցած ճանապարհը հիացնում են ինձ, հիացնում են այն ձեռքբերումները, որ ունեցաք ԱՄՆ-ում, այն կարողության զրոյների թիվը, որ կուտոկեցիք Ձեր բիզնես հաջողությունների շնորհիվ։ Չեք պատկերացնում, թե ես ամերիկացիներին ինչ խանդավառությամբ եմ պատմում Ձեր մասին, հարցնում ճանաչո՞ւմ եք, բայց ցավում եմ, որ անտարբեր ինձ են նայում, ասում Ձեր անունը անգամ չեն լսել, չգիտեն, թե ինչքան եք օգնել ԱՄՆ-ին, չգիտեն Լաս Վեգասի համբավը ներկայիս համբավին հասցնելու գործում ով է կանգնած, ինքան գումարներ եք նվիրաբերել Կարմիր Խաչին, բայց մեկ է դուք իրենց համար օտար եք, անճանաչելի, անհայտ, իսկ հայերի՞ համար։ Ձեզ բոլորը գիտեն, Ձեզնով բոլորն են հպարտանում, գիտեն Ձեր ներդումը աղետի գոտին վերականգնելու գործում, գիտեն «Լինսի» հիմնադրամում ներդրված գումարների մեծության ամսին։ Դուք մեր հերոսն եք, հպարտությունը ու քանի հայերը հիշում են Ձեզ, (իսկ Ձեր պատկերը դպրոցներում ու զորամասերում է), ապա ապրելու եք ու հիշվելու եք սերունդների կողմից։ Եթե այսքանը իմանայիք, տեսնիեք, կարծում եմ՝ երկորդ կյանք ունենալու դեպքում, Ձեր խաղադրույքը Հայաստանի վրա կանեիք և Ձեր կարողությունը արևմտյան քամիները չէին քշի։
February 6, 2019
A fascinating biography of one of the most successful entrepreneurs and financial capitalists. I began to think the author was bordering on hagiography but it turned out Kerkorian's nature was such that he did not project a lot of negatives unlike similar moguls.
Coming from humble origins he simply took on risk that most would cringe from to stair step his was to an incredible fortune. Amazingly shy and withdrawn for someone on the glare of the spotlight of success. Evidence of this was that not a single picture posted in the book, a disappointment, as pictures add so much more to a biographical work.
Yet the story was intriguing nonetheless. The twists and turns of high finance, the squaring off against Howard Hughes and later Steve Wynne in Las Vegas, and the revolving door of his personal relationships and the exploitation of against him by one of those partners.
In most respects Kerkorian never flaunted his wealth, and certainly not his celebrity as a billionaire in high profile Vegas. Unlike most others he always chose to remain in the shadows of anonymity.
He did channel some of the wealth into Armenia his ancestral homeland of tragic history. Yet he was quick to pull the plug on that near his end leaving many in the lurch. The wealth in itself became a monument unto itself. It left me wondering how much is enough, or is it even a consideration for these types. For some, like Kerkorian, it seems to become simply a game. A scorecard of numbers and accomplishments.
Coming from humble origins he simply took on risk that most would cringe from to stair step his was to an incredible fortune. Amazingly shy and withdrawn for someone on the glare of the spotlight of success. Evidence of this was that not a single picture posted in the book, a disappointment, as pictures add so much more to a biographical work.
Yet the story was intriguing nonetheless. The twists and turns of high finance, the squaring off against Howard Hughes and later Steve Wynne in Las Vegas, and the revolving door of his personal relationships and the exploitation of against him by one of those partners.
In most respects Kerkorian never flaunted his wealth, and certainly not his celebrity as a billionaire in high profile Vegas. Unlike most others he always chose to remain in the shadows of anonymity.
He did channel some of the wealth into Armenia his ancestral homeland of tragic history. Yet he was quick to pull the plug on that near his end leaving many in the lurch. The wealth in itself became a monument unto itself. It left me wondering how much is enough, or is it even a consideration for these types. For some, like Kerkorian, it seems to become simply a game. A scorecard of numbers and accomplishments.
February 16, 2020
Unauthorised biography of Kirk Kerkorian. A self-made Armenian-American Billionaire who built his fortune during the post world war 2 aviation boom and later, the Las Vegas real estate boom.
The book is titled “The Gambler” because Kirk always went all in. Many of his investments bet his entire net worth - sometimes more. Fortunately for Kirk, those bets paid on handsomely. His fortune peaked at 16 Billion in 2008, making him the 41st Richest man in the world. Not bad for a guy who never even finished high school.
My biggest lesson from this book, and something I’ve known for the past 2 years, is realising how important it is to choose the right industry.
Choosing the right industry determines a very large part of your success. I’ve met bankers who were no smarter than used car salesmen and yet, earned 10 times the salary.
Kirk understood this. He picked the right industry not once, but twice!
The book is titled “The Gambler” because Kirk always went all in. Many of his investments bet his entire net worth - sometimes more. Fortunately for Kirk, those bets paid on handsomely. His fortune peaked at 16 Billion in 2008, making him the 41st Richest man in the world. Not bad for a guy who never even finished high school.
My biggest lesson from this book, and something I’ve known for the past 2 years, is realising how important it is to choose the right industry.
Choosing the right industry determines a very large part of your success. I’ve met bankers who were no smarter than used car salesmen and yet, earned 10 times the salary.
Kirk understood this. He picked the right industry not once, but twice!
June 27, 2022
a Twitter recommendation that ended up been a good read For someone the author only met through other books written on the subject, court records and accounts by close associates, that was a detailed and in-depth writing. The subject seemed unreal - like how does one reconcile Mr Nice Kirk with what one knows about the ruthlessness of the corporate world and how did Lisa Bonder almost get away with murder. Initial thoughts were the book was full of such high praises without any mention of the flaws of the subject- we later saw some but I’m left with questions such as how did Kirk save up to buy that first plane that changed everything? What’s the author’s gripe with Trump… he didn’t even need to mention him in the books. The short chapters and the titling make for an interesting read and it’s one I’d recommend people read.
February 16, 2021
The first 25% or so of the book is really engaging, reading the story of someone who had nothing and how he turned that into massive business opportunities. As is pretty much always the case it was by taking out big loans that paid off, but interesting to see the gambling personality that led to that and his choice to do it on aviation he learned in the war was a cool story. The rest of the Las Vegas development stuff and deal-making was boring business details. Wouldn't recommend this for how dry and overly long it is without ever having any real insight on the man and his thought process. Really just a laundry list of the details of deals rather than anything of interest or that you could take away from it.
February 4, 2022
4.5 / 5 because the book could have been shorter, the second half especially. But Kirk was amazing, such an ethical businessman, so likable, yet so successful. As always, stories and biographies can be the source of greatest lessons for we remember those stories better than bullet lists. The biggest take-away from me was: when in business you are offered something good, do not say YES, but keep on a poker face and tell them You'd think about it. In this way You get offered even more :) It's even more true in today's fast communication - remember that You don't need to reply FAST to an email/offer. Take Your time, it's on Your side ;)
December 27, 2022
Having spent 40+ years in Los Angeles I knew the name Kirk Kerkorian, but never quite understood the depths of his influence and wealth until reading this fascinating biography. He is a humble reluctant public figure and in a world of ruthless businessmen, he truly seemed to be a very honorable man and that was inspiring to say the least. The parallels with Howard Hughes (aviators, Las Vegas real estate tycoons and movie studio owners) was particularly intriguing, although as much as has been written about Hughes, it is Kerkorian that needs to be studied and lauded for the way he led his life
April 15, 2018
Interesting biography
I knew the name Kirk Kerkorian, but I didn't know anything about his life. This book is well researched and well written. The emphasis is on Kerkorian's business dealings. His personal life is dealt with in a detached manner.
That said, it wasn't as interesting as I'd hoped. You need to get excited about business deals to really appreciate it. It's not the writing, which is great, that slowed me down. I just couldn't get into all the stocks and takeovers and such.
I knew the name Kirk Kerkorian, but I didn't know anything about his life. This book is well researched and well written. The emphasis is on Kerkorian's business dealings. His personal life is dealt with in a detached manner.
That said, it wasn't as interesting as I'd hoped. You need to get excited about business deals to really appreciate it. It's not the writing, which is great, that slowed me down. I just couldn't get into all the stocks and takeovers and such.
December 28, 2018
Next to Steve Jobs, this is the best biography I’ve ever consumed. I learned through Kirk’s ups and downs and was educated in a completely new business to me of casinos and film while being engaged by his personal life, understanding his emotional responses, and learning about his drive to succeed. He also breaks the mold of ultra successful business people who are brash and don’t care about people, he was a very calculated man, but had compassion and empathy for the people with whom he dealt, especially those in his personal life.
February 17, 2019
This book is well-written and expertly-narrated. It is quite a joy to listen to. The only hinderance to receiving four or five stars from me is the source material. While Kerkorian lived an interesting youth anything after his first business is fairly dull. He bought and sold a few companies, built a few buildings, brushed up against Howard Hughes, got taken by a grifter and died. Kerkorian comes across as a thoroughly nice guy but there are few stunning moments. But again, author and narrator can't be faulted for that. That's just how the subject seems to have been.
November 13, 2020
Surprisingly great book that I had never heard of. I am in Las Vegas often, so this helped paint the backstory of many landmark properties on the strip. Kerkorian has to be respected for how little media attention he desired. This is an inspiration to everyone that wants to make it on their own and a passive reminder of how great our country is. As an aside, if these allegations of Lisa Bonder are all true, she is nothing short of a despicable human being, absolutely disgusting on all levels. That is definitely one "deal" that the late Kerkorian likely wishes that he "passed" on.
January 28, 2018
If you consider all of the other books that have this super investor in it. This book gives you more color as to the true beauty of the individual. His exploits in the earlier years and his humility in later years are easy to connect. It will also motivate you to use your abilities to move your life forward. You want to keep reading the book and it will keep you interested with events that make going to Las Vegas more enjoyable.
Good Book - about - A Good Man
Good Book - about - A Good Man
March 30, 2018
This book was very interesting and well written. I had never heard of Kirk Kerkorian before, and picked it to read for the rags to riches story. It turned out that he also had an exceptional honest character and was someone I wanted to see succeed. It was informative in the areas of the gaming industry, deal making, WWII aviation, Armenians, and psychology. Many of the other people in the are also very interesting. I highly recommend it.
May 13, 2018
This book was a very well done biography on a lesser known billionaire businessman. I had never heard his name before, but he had an amazingly lengthy career building his businesses in aviation, leisure, and movies. Quite an impressive story, and an enjoyable read if you're interested in finance/investing, the creation of the Las Vegas industry, or the Hollywood movie industry of the 1960s-80s.
A sad personal life, with multiple divorces and everyone trying to get a piece of his fortune.
A sad personal life, with multiple divorces and everyone trying to get a piece of his fortune.
July 21, 2018
Kirk Kerkorian's story of rags to riches. Rempel traces Kirk's history well. Amazing how he bought and sold MGM so often. He truly made big bets and influenced industries from aviation, movies, & Vegas.
Also interesting with his involvement and patience with Lisa Bonder.
I knew a little about his business deals but not much at all about his personal life and ties to Armenia.
This is really a good story. Reads more like a novel than a biography.
Also interesting with his involvement and patience with Lisa Bonder.
I knew a little about his business deals but not much at all about his personal life and ties to Armenia.
This is really a good story. Reads more like a novel than a biography.
October 8, 2018
An Extraordinary read for someone like myself who fancies himself as a future dealmaker as well. Kerk Kerkorian was the kind of man that I wished I could have worked for and with. I would have enjoyed it and I would have learned so much. Again, a truly great story of someone from humble beginnings and who shunned the spotlight. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and can hardly wait to read it again.
June 4, 2022
Excellent excellent excellent really interesting story Kirk really did do an amazing job of being a serial in successful individual he’s over soon probably by a few people although Elon musk would be one of them a worthwhile read if you’ve never read it before the saddest part is the end and how alone he ended up being because of all of the entourage he had to keep around him from a legal and accounting standpoint to protect his money.
March 12, 2018
good for those interested in: M&A; Vegas; how air travel effected banking, globalization, biz history from 1920 until 2010.
ever look at a sky scraper and wonder how someone financed giant projects? read this book.
the spine of the book is an account of Kirk's business life, walking through the context and tactics of Kirk's raiding adventures.
a bit of real life citizen Kane thrown in as well.
ever look at a sky scraper and wonder how someone financed giant projects? read this book.
the spine of the book is an account of Kirk's business life, walking through the context and tactics of Kirk's raiding adventures.
a bit of real life citizen Kane thrown in as well.
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